On Sunday, July 31, about 100 Scouts from across the nation will arrive at Camp Sheppard to kick off ArrowCorps502, a service learning program developed by the Boy Scouts of America's Chief Seattle Council, T'Kope Kwiskwis Lodge, in partnership with Mount Rainier National Park and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Scouts of ArrowCorps502 will begin their week on Monday, August 1, with onsite Leave No Trace education before dispersing to their work locations within the shadow of Mount Rainier. Service projects with Mount Rainier National Park will focus on trail building and maintenance along the Crystal Lakes Trail in the Sunrise area, as well as converting the Ipsut Creek Campground to a backcountry campsite along the Carbon River. After three days of work participants will return to Camp Sheppard on Friday, August 5, for a closing jamboree.

In addition to giving volunteer service in Mount Rainier National Park and the surrounding National Forest, the goal of ArrowCorps502 is to provide participants with the opportunity to build their leadership experience, cultivate lifelong friendships, and enjoy firsthand the power and beauty of the mountain.

"We're looking forward to seeing this program happen," said Kevin Bacher, Volunteer and Outreach Program Manager at Mount Rainier National Park. "We've been working with Scouts from the Order of the Arrow for two years now, and they've done a fantastic job of putting this very complex program together."

Randy King, Acting Superintendent at Mount Rainier National Park, said her looks forward to continue working with the Chief Seattle Council in the future. "We've built a good foundation for this to become a recurring partnership," he said. "It's exciting and important to see young people playing an active role in the stewardship of their national park."

ArrowCorps502 is a partnership between the Boy Scouts of America and the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. Students from The Evergreen State College will also assist with the program. The project is sponsored by grants from the Boy Scouts of America and the National Park Service's Volunteers-in-Parks program, with significant contributions from REI, Inc. and Home Depot.